The colours of spring

Sue Green

Zippy colour-blocked shades from the Haymes Play theme invigorate a kitchen.

Bright colours, even in small doses, can lift our spirits even on the dullest days, according to a poll by Dulux Australia. Bree Leech, from the Dulux colour studio, says it isn't necessary to paint an entire house, or even an whole room, to feel the benefit.

''You can choose a space within your home to have a strong colour and it does not need to take over a whole room necessarily,'' she says. ''For example, a study, a reading nook - you use a colour that you love, that gives emotions you would like to feel there, in that space.''

Even painting a piece of furniture, such as an old chest of drawers, or a door can help. ''For example, the door to the toilet. When you go in there in the morning, it gives you a positive start to the day,'' Ms Leech says. ''The great thing about paint is it is not difficult to change if you get sick of the colour.''

Employing rich hues such as Taubmans chocolate on adjacent walls can create warmth and contrast in living areas.

Wendy Rennie, the colour and concept manager with Haymes Paint, says that rather than repainting a wall, a series of canvases can be painted and hung to create large colour blocks. So the vibrant brights of Haymes' Play theme, for example, can be added without stress.

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''They are the bold, zippy, fun colours that liven you up and make you feel good,'' she says. Conversely the Companionship theme, with warm neutrals and coral pinks, aims to create warm, comfortable family environments.

''If you go into a room and there is no colour, you are going to have a minimal reaction,'' Ms Rennie says. ''That does affect how you feel.'' This is particularly so in winter, with shorter days and more time indoors.

Ms Leech says Australians are returning to colour after years of emphasis on neutrals and white. ''We are more prepared to try it,'' she says, attributing that to renewed emphasis on design.

Television shows such as The Block promote and reflect that interest in design and judge Shaynna Blaze, a Taubmans colour consultant, detects a backlash against whites and neutrals. ''It's like we need permission to put a bit of colour back in,'' she says.

She thinks we have lost spontaneity - it is not a big deal to paint over a wall we don't like, or to create a different look for summer. ''I think people are unaware that just changing the wall colour for six months will really make your house feel warmer,'' Ms Blaze says.

She suggests painting two adjacent walls to give a room depth and richness and says creating warmth is about creating layers and textures. So, for example, Taubmans chocolate brown makes white picture frames or a light-coloured couch ''pop''. And instead of repainting for summer - not difficult with the right undercoat, she says - changing accessories to aqua or deep greens would have a cooling effect.

Gina Berney, a colour consultant with Porter's Paints, says the Pantone colour of the year is a warm blood orange called Tangerine Tango. ''So straight away by introducing some orange into your room you are going to give it warmth,'' she says. ''If you really want to spice it up you can mix some orange, reds, pinks together.''

Porter's Chilli Coral and Wild Strawberry are warm and playful, while, for resting by the fire, the look could be toned down with a more sophisticated cinnamon or terracotta such as Porter's Lava. But Ms Berney, too, suggests painting just two walls, vintage furniture or even old picture frames to add warmth.